President’s message (September 2019)

For some people it is pulling the boat out of the water, cleaning the hull, packing the battery and stowing the PFD’s. For others, it is shuttering windows, packing sheets and blankets away from mice and moths and closing the cabin for winter. For us, it is moving hives to their winter locations, packing bees into their brood chambers and wrapping honey boxes to keep out marauding wasps. The season has ended but certainly not the work.

The promise of fireweed has now gone to fluff and seed; in a light rain, the last of the three out yards was closed and the charger packed away for another year. It wasn’t the best of years for honey production. The nectar flows seemed low when hives were strong and blooms seemed to burst forth in a matter of days instead of weeks.

Now what can we sell? If you have more than enough for your immediate family and friends you may be looking to sell your honey in the broader community. If you are a little more creative you may have wax, propolis, mead, royal jelly and other products to share as gifts or revenue generators. Come out to our September meeting!

Bill Spriggs, a life member of the CRBA passed away in July. A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2019 from 2 to 4 pm in the Bodine Family Hall at Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney BC. All are welcome. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallgardens.com.